Kaleidoscope top.



No. 845,529. PATENTED FEB. 26, 1907. 0. v. CUNNINGHAM. KALBIDOSOOPE TOP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28,.1906.

CHARLES V. CUNNINGHAM, OF SPRINGFIELD,MISSOURI.

KALEIDOSCOPE TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 26, 1907.

Application filed April 28, 1906. Serial No. 314,229-

To (LZZ whmn, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES V. CUNNING- HAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Greene and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Kaleidoscope Tops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to kaleidoscope tops, and more especially to a top of that character which while spinning presents a shade or shades produced by a blending or mixing of a series of colors upon the top, and my object is to produce a spinning top of the character outlined whereby the permanent colors shall be caused by ra id revolution to produce constantly-changing color or shade effects or blendings of shade or color eflects.

A further object is to produce aspinning apparatus in which the blending of colors or combinations of colors can be varied-and disclose radical changes of pattern without interfering with the spinning action of the top.

A still further object is to produce a kaleidoscope top of the character outlined of simple and cheap construction.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and organization, as hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a spinningtop and the means for spinning the same embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the top equipped with the color-card. Fi 3 is a vertical cross-section on the line III 111 of Fig. 4.. Fig. 4 is atop plan View of the top equipped with a cover-card above the color-card. Figs 5, 6, and 7- are plan views of different forms of the cover-cards. Fi 8 is a detail view of the lower end of the ho der.

In the said drawings, 1 indicates a top, preferably of metal, and of circular form and large diameter as compared with its hei ht and formed with a shallow and preferaoly I circular recess 2 at its upper side, so as to provide the surrounding flange 2 the under side of the top tapering downward, as at 3, to a point or apex 4, which may be the lower end I of a steel or other hard-metal plug 5, screwed into the top and projecting above the same and provided with a cylindrical socket 6 and an outwardly-projecting flange 7 to engage the bottom of the recess. The top is pro- ..vided near its margin with a series of equ1- distant holes 8, 'any one of which is for a purpose hereinafter explained, while the remainder are simply provided as a balance to insure a perfectly upright position of the top while spinning.

As the most effective method of spinning the top a cord 9 is adapted to be wound around the upper portion of the plug in a well-known manner, the outer end of the cord being equipped with the usual button 10 for convenience in unwinding the cord with sufficient force to' spin the top rapidly. To

hold the top properly while unwinding the cord, I preferably provide a holder 11, having a reduced cylindrical end 12 to fit snugly in socket 6 and be withdrawn at abou the. same instant the cord becomes totally unwound, as will be readily understood.

For use in connection with the top I employ a suitable color-card 13 of circular form and preferably smaller diameter than the top and of less thickness than the depth of the recess, each card having a central hole 14 to permit the collar 7 to project therethrough when the card occupies said recess, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. The color-card may be of any combination of colors desired, that shown disclosing two concentric series of colors 15 and 16, divided by lines 15 into four segments of equal size and colored, respectively, green, yellow, blue, and red, as shown by the shading in Fig. 2, it being understood in this connection that the color-card is secured to the top before the latter is caused to spin and revolves with and at the same speed as the top, and consequently produces ashade which is a perfect blending of such colors, the shade varying accordingly as the speed of rotation increases or diminishes.

For producing beautiful effects in shades or tints I provide what I prefer to term cover-cards 18, four different types being shown in the drawin Each cover-card is preferably in solid co or, and such cards difer in form, so that when used with the same color-card variations of shades andtints and patterns are produced, the diversities being astonishing to the beholder. The changes, of course, can be multiplied by using covercards of. different colors. Each cover-card ameter as the color-card, but may be smaller and is adapted to rest upon the shoulder or iis preferably of substantially the same diupper surface ofcollar 7 and has a central hole 19 to fit snugly but rotatably upon the plug, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and said cards are also provided with one or more i of the color-card and cover-card a change of relation is effected, whereby the area of exposure of one color or combinationof colors on'the former increases as the exposure of the adjacent color or combination of colors diminishes. As a result when the radiallyalined yellow and blue segments are exposed by the cover-card the effect of a yellow'outer and blue inner ring will be produced and then imperceptibly the color of said rings will shade into a blending. of said colors with the colors of the following segment'i. e., the red outer and yellow inner segment--as'suming that the top is spinning in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 2. The covercard a moment laterwill be exposing only the outer red and the inner yellow segment, which of course produces the effect of an outer red and an inner yellow ring. The top next shows a blending of the outer red and inner. yellowwith the outer blue and inner green segment, then an outer blue and an inner green ring, then a blending of the lastnanied colors with the outer green and inner red segments, then an outer green and inner red ring, and, finally, a blending of such colors with the outer yellow and inner blue, after which the colors and shades and combinations of colors and shades disclosed are repetitions of those mentioned. It is impossible to depict in words the beautiful and astonishing effects produced. The three-fourths cover-card (see Fig. 4) ex oses the colorcard, so as to produce the so id-color-ring effects above described, because the opening may expose only a single segment at times. Said card also discloses ring effects produced by blending of parts of adjacent segments.

The double-segment cover-card, Fig. 5, when used with the color-card of Fig. 2 always exposes two sets of segments or parts of all four segments, and no solid-color-ring effects are produced, the rings produced being blendings or mixtures of the exposed colors, the shades of said blendings varying as certain colors predominate by the exposure of a larger proportion of their surfaces.

The S cover-card, Fig. 6, produces the effect of a multiplicity of colors revolving in the same direction and sometimes apparently in opposite directions, the blendings of the colors producing beautiful rainbow effects.

The Wheel cover-card, Fig. 7, produces the effect upon the eye of IIHOS of different i shades and combinations of shades, being thrownofi from the center, and, again, the

efl'ect of picking up said rings and drawing them toward the center. .It also produces the effect, because revolat a different speed from the color-card an because. of the pecuhar shape of its slots or openings of cansmg the rings to revolve in opposite directions at times and at other times inthe same direction.

In all of the cards the segmental form of the blades produces the enect under their rapid rotation of shades or blendings of shades of rounded or arched form. The cover-card is always placed upon the top while the latter isspinning and can be grasped by the blade and removed and replaced by another without interrupting such motion of the top, which because its center of gravity is low can be made to spin for sev-' eral minutes, and thus give time for one to successively place thereon and remove several cover-cards in onespinning act-ion, and

in this connection it should be understood that the removal of the color-cards can be effected easily and quickly without handling the color-surface or abrading its edge by proj ecting the finger up through one of the holes 8.

The color and cover cards may be of any suitable material, though for general purposes cardboard will be employed because of 1ts cheapness.

A top of the character described will not .only please and amuse, but also inculcate useful knowledge in the art of color mixing,

as the fact that the combination of certain colors blend to produce a certain shade or tint will consciously or unconsciously be impressed on the memory of one who frequently beholds the spinning top and the effects produced thereby.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a kaleidoscope top possessing the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in. the statement of the object of the invention, and I wish it to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, as various changes in the form, proportion, detail, construction, and arrangement of the pa ts will suggest themselves to one skilled in the art to whichthis invention pertains.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a spinning-top having a fiat upper side, a circular flange iprojectmg upward from the margin of the at surface of the top, a cylindrical portion project'- ing upward from the center of the top and provided with a central cylindrical socket and with a surrounding horizontal upwardlydisposed shoulder fitting down u on said flat surface, a color-card fitting flat y upon the fiat surface of the to and snugly upon the cylindrical portion be ow its shoulder, and a cover-card supported upon said shoulder above and out of contact with the color-card and journaled loosely upon the cylindrical portion above said shoulder and provided with an opening through which said colorcard below may be observed, and provided also with an upwardly-projecting retardingwing; said cover-card being adapted to be fitted down upon or removed from said cy lindrical portion while the top is spinnin 2. The combination of a spinning-top 'aving a fiat upper side, a circular flange projecting upward from the margin of the flat surface of the to a cylindrical portion projecting upward cm the center of the top and provided with a central cylindrical socket and with a surrounding horizontal upwardlydis osed shoulder fitting down upon said flat s ace, a color-card fitting flatly upon theflat surface of the top and snugly upon the cylindrical portion below its shoulder, a cylindrical holder adapted to engage said socket; a cord adapted to be wound upon the clyl lindrical portion above said shoulder and t on pulled to effect its unwinding and the sip fining of the top before the holder is withawn therefrom, and a cover-card adapted to be slipped upon the said cylindrical portion and rest upon the shoulder thereof after the holder has been withdrawn from the socket; said cover-card having an opening to expose the color-card below and an upwardlyprojecting retard' -wing.

3. The combination of a spinning-top having its u per side flat and surrounded by a margina flange and provided with a plurality of vertical holes, a collar rigid with and projecting from the center of the top above 1ts flat surface, a cylindrical portion disposed centrally of and projecting vertically upward from the collar, a color-card restin upon said flat surface and bridgin said ho es and fittin snugly around the co lar and a ainst said ange, and a cover-card supporte upon the collar and rotatably surrounding the cylindrical portion fromand rovide with an opening and with an'upwar ly-projecting blade.

4. The combination of a spinning-top havmg its upper side flat, an u wardly-projecting flange surrounding sai side, a vertical rojecting upward thereplug secured in the top and forming the point provided wit a collar or enlargement restin upon said flat surface, and wit a cylindrica socket, a color-card upon said flat surface against said flange, a holder having a cylindrical portion fitting loosely in said socket, and a cord adapted to be wound upon the plug above the collar and be unwound to cause the top to spin.

5. The combination of a spinning-top having its upper side flat, an u wardly-projecting flange surrounding sai side, a vertical plug secured in the top and forming the point thereof and projecting above said flange and provided with a collar or enlargement restin upon said flat surface, and wit acylindrica socket, a color-card upon said fiat surface fittin snugly around said collar and against said ange, a holder having a cylindrical portion fitting loosely in said socket, a cord adapted to be wound upon the plug above the collar and be unwound to cause the top to spin, and a cover-card adaptedto be fitted rotatably on the plug above the collar and provided with an opening and with a blade projecting vertically upward.

6. A cover-card for spinning-tops of substantially S shape rovided with a central hole and an upward y-projecting wing.

7. The combination of a spinning-top having its upper side surrounded by a circular wall, a cylindrical portion projecting up from and disposed centrally of said upper side and formed with an upwardly-disposed shoulder, a color-card fitting on the upper side of the 'to and around said projecting portion and be 0w the shoulder thereof and the top of the wall, and an S shaped cover-card journaled on the said upwardly-projecting portion and provided with an upwardlyg-projecting retarding-wing. 4

In testimony whereof I affixmy-signature in the presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

JOEL H. ROUNTREE', ERNEs'r E. OLvEY.

CHARLES vIoUNNiNGHAM. I

thereof and rojecting above said flange and 1 and fitting snugly around said collar and above andresting on the shoulder thereof 7 

